EC: Too late for July 20 election

There is not enough time for the Election Commission (EC) to hold a general election on July 20, commissioner Somchai Srisutthiyakorn insisted on Sunday.

Published: 18/05/2014 at 12:20 PM

Writer: Online Reporters

Mr Somchai, who is in charge of election administration, said the EC will wait for the caretaker government to call a new meeting to discuss acting caretaker Prime Minister Niwattumrong Boonsongpaisan's authority to propose a royal decree for the next poll and the commission's power to postpone it in the event of a disturbance.

On Thursday, a meeting between EC members and the caretaker government was held at the Royal Thai Air Force headquarters in Bangkok. However, the meeting was cut short following the arrival of leaders and supporters of the anti-government People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC).

"It is now impossible to hold the election on July 20 as planned because of time constraints on the process. The EC and the government will have to meet and decide on a new date," Mr Somchai said.

The EC may also discuss the readiness for holding the poll nationwide and security agencies' measures to ensure that it will be held peacefully and smoothly, he added.